Bizen sake bottle

This is a Bizen sake bottle by Kei Fujiwara, a master beloved by all for a warm artistic style that radiated both boldness and kindness. The charming, round body, crafted without artifice, combines with bright kiln-transformation effects to perfectly embody Fujiwara’s signature theme of "dauntless magnanimity." Despite the bold Bizen aesthetic, the piece is filled with incredibly delicate scenery, showcasing a profound charm unique to earthenware, such as the gradation of the clay from light brown to scarlet. Much like the artist himself, this magnificent work possesses both boldness and delicacy, capable of intoxicating the viewer even more than the sake it holds. (*Please note that there is a kiln flaw on the base, but it does not leak water.) Signed wooden box (double-crosspiece lid)
Rim 3.6cm × Body diameter 9.5cm × Body diameter 9.3cm × Height 13.5cm Capacity approx. 400cc Kei Fujiwara (1899–1983, born in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture) entered the world of Bizen ware at the suggestion of Atsuo Masamune, a scholar of Japanese literature living in Honami, Bizen City. He received training in wheel-throwing and other techniques from Baikai Mimura, and from 1941, he further honed his pottery skills by learning firing methods from fellow Living National Treasure Toyo Kaneshige. Emulating the simplicity and boldness found in the utilitarian wares of the Kamakura and Muromachi periods, he created jars and vases with a generous and clear style. The artistic education he absorbed in his youth influenced his works. In 1954, he became the second person to be designated a Living National Treasure for Bizen ware, and in 1958, he became a director of the Japan Kogei Association. In 1977, he established the Kei Fujiwara Memorial Museum in Bizen City, Okayama Prefecture.
Main awards: Okayama Prefecture Cultural Award, Sanyo Shimbun Award, Chugoku Cultural Award; Honorary Citizen of Bizen City; Honorary Resident of Okayama Prefecture; posthumously awarded the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Third Class.